Delima delima....

jstrange

jstrange

Joined
Mar 31, 2012
Messages
3,379
So I just came across $50 through the generosity of a fellow knife enthusiast. I have a few things I might like to purchase and would like the sage advice often found here.

Here goes....

A little background first. I generally like folders, but have been wanting the fast access and toughness of a fixed blade recently. Since I have a hard time finding a fixed blade in the size I want that I can actually carry on a daily basis I am leaning back to folders again. The other issue I always face is that being a cop I always consider the weapon potential of a particular knife when I buy it (I know its not likely to ever be used that way, but its hardwired into my system now). I only like ambidextrous stuff because I generally carry a knife on my center or left side (gun takes up the right). I am not trying to turn this into a self-defense discussion, but consider my mindset when answering the question below. For people friendly cutting I usually carry a Leatherman also. Enough rambling, on to the question at hand.

I have a Buck 110 that I have been carrying in the sheath horizontally. I really love the style of the knife, but I am just too used to fast one handed openers. So I am looking at a couple of options and trying to stay with Buck ( I have a bunch of other that fit the bill, but have been on a Buck kick lately). What would you all buy given these choices:

1) "Upgrade" the 110 with the added thumb-stud option and even possibly the "quick sheath" gizmo. I like the concept of both, but worry about trying to turn the 110 into somethings its not.
2) Buck Alpha. It already has the thumb stud and is fast opening, but is heavy and limited to sheath carry which I don't really mind, but is pretty slow to access (kinda defeats the fast opening of the knife. I really love a lot about this knife, but I am not a huge liner-lock fan, one reason I have never gotten the Vantage. I hear its a pretty stout knife so maybe I am worried about nothing (usually the case).
3) Buck Marksman. This one seems to do a lot of the things I like very well. A couple of issues though. Its over my budget by quite a bit, its not out yet, and doesn't have the more traditional styling I have been going after lately.

So given those choices, and that budget (give or take a little) what would you do?

Thanks for any help that you can offer.
 
I LOVE my Alpha folders! Same weight as the 110, and ultra smooth deployment of the blade.
I put a stubby little lanyard on it, that helps a bunch for getting it out of the sheath super easy and timely.
Unsnapping the sheath and snagging the lanyard all seems to happen at once.
That really helps.when I am sneaking up on a vegetable in the garden...lol
I like the leather sheath much better than the nylon.
Here is the one I carry on my belt daily.

The liner lock on these is definately stout, I trust it more than a 110.

Being law enforcement, you are elegible to sign up with Buck for a couple nice discounts on the prosite ;)

Check the Bay for a decent used one. I scored 2 seperate 279's on there for $20 each, and scored a 277 for a bit over $30.
Usually they get bid up a bit more, but sometimes you get lucky :)





 
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Thanks for the info. That looks like a great set-up. I was really leaning towards the Alpha lately (when I was broke), but I couldn't find a ton of reviews on it. Everything I did see was positive though. I just can seem to get over that thin liner on such a beefy looking knife. Again, I am sure its much ado about nothing. Can the sheath be carried horizontal?

As for the Buck Pro-site, I am not familiar at all. Could you point me in the right direction on that?
 
jstrange said:
Thanks for the info. That looks like a great set-up. I was really leaning towards the Alpha lately (when I was broke), but I couldn't find a ton of reviews on it. Everything I did see was positive though. I just can seem to get over that thin liner on such a beefy looking knife. Again, I am sure its much ado about nothing. Can the sheath be carried horizontal?

As for the Buck Pro-site, I am not familiar at all. Could you point me in the right direction on that?
Click to expand...

I added more to my previous post, but here is more info :)

Yes, both nylon and leather sheath are vertical or horizontal carry. But I definately prefer the leather.

Prosite, go to Buck's website, at the very bottom of each page, there is a tiny link that says prosite, click that, check the elegibility etc...
If you call them, they would likely help too.
It can take a little.time to get approved, but you will be happy you made the effort ;)
 
The liner lock....

In my humble opinion, it would be very very hard to make it fail. Maybe pounding the blade with a hammer could do it???
I am 99.9% certain you could stab a car door and not have it fail. (Not that I ever would, but that is an extreme example)
 
Thanks for all the help. Any opinion on adding to the 110?

Signed up for Pro-site, so i will let you know how that goes.
 
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The Folding Alpha Hunter can be opened with one hand easily. A flick of the wrist and it is opened and locked. Takes little practice.

Mine
 
jstrange said:
Thanks for all the help. Any opinion on adding to the 110?
Click to expand...
That would be easy enough..... but I have other folders with one handed opening, so I haven't done that.

Another thought I had.... have you.looked at the Buck CSAR-T folders, especially the Responder?
That might make a great one for work.
Same frame etc as the alpha.
Seatbelt cutter in the handle, and good blade for emergency type situations.
Modified tanto type blade. (a bit rounded)
I have the fixed blade version, and I quite like it. It even came sharp enough from the factory to shave my face :)
And the prosite cost would be close to the amount you mentioned. (A little more, but not much)
 
edbeau said:
The Folding Alpha Hunter can be opened with one hand easily. A flick of the wrist and it is opened and locked. Takes little practice.

Mine
Click to expand...

Very true! Action in the pivot is so smooth that the right wrist flick can open it very quickly!
I am just never in that much of a hurry :)
 
CSAR Looks like a real quality knife, but I am more of a fan of the blade profile on the Alpha. The CSAR would make a great work knife, but a personally like a nice pointy slicer more than a thick blade when it comes to folders. If I wind up with the Alpha, and really like it, I could see a CSAR in my future one day though.

Also, great pics edbeau. I hadn't considered the wrist flick, but that is a viable method for quick deployment for sure. I sometimes worry about the lock wearing too much though.
 
jstrange said:
CSAR Looks like a real quality knife, but I am more of a fan of the blade profile on the Alpha. The CSAR would make a great work knife, but a personally like a nice pointy slicer more than a thick blade when it comes to folders. If I wind up with the Alpha, and really like it, I could see a CSAR in my future one day though.

Also, great pics edbeau. I hadn't considered the wrist flick, but that is a viable method for quick deployment for sure. I sometimes worry about the lock wearing too much though.
Click to expand...

yep, the alpha is definately more pointy :)

I can't wait to get the Marksman in the mail, but it is definately more money, and not readily available yet.

For fun, and to show the other end of the pointy spectrum.... a 415 Kalinga folder (can still be found on the Bay etc)
Built in the same manner as the Alpha.
Definately a pointy slicer...lol

 
So far you have been given some great knives to look at. I love my Alpha's and are easy one hand openers, I also agree the liner lock will not fail normal use. Another one hand knife to look at is the Paradigm's, with the Pro-site it also may be in your price range. The Paradigm's lock open and closed, if someone were to get it off you they would not know how to open it.




jb4570
 
That Kalinga is pretty cool looking. I don't think I had ever seen that before. The Dorado is a touch smaller than I usually like. I had previously looked in to the Paradigm, but was leery of the bolster lock mechanism. It is intriguing, but it doesn't look too lefty friendly (I am not a lefty, but carry left handed).

Thanks again guys for all the great suggestions.
 
Yeah, the 3 1/2 inch +/- size blade seems the most practical.
Dorado at 2 1/2 might be a bit small for a duty blade.

I want a paradigm too, but others are higher up on my want list ;)

The Kalinga is sweet! I occasionally belt carry that one when heading to town, with the Dorado in my pocket.
 
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